The political language of John Hume

Abstract

This article examines the use of key terms in John Hume's political language since the late 1980s; particularly those of self‐determination, post‐nationalism and the ‘European Dimension’. Although Hume has attempted to move beyond traditional nationalist language and formulations, in part to reassure unionists, it is argued that a tension exists between his advocacy of post‐nationalism and nationalist assumptions. It is further argued that, despite Hume's influence on policy makers in the UK and, in particular, the Irish Republic his vision of ‘regionalisation’ is unlikely to prove successful.